Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

     English is the first language of many people in countries outside the United Kingdom. When you meet speakers of English from around the world, you immediately notice that they do not speak in the same way. There are also some (23) …………… in the words they use, including the names of (24) …………… objects that are part of everyone's daily life. Although pronunciation and (25) …………… are not the same everywhere, it is interesting that English speakers (26) ……………. opposite sides of the world can understand each other quite easily. It does not seem to matter where they learnt the language. And of course, this is one reason why speakers of other languages are keen on learning English too. If you know English, you are more (27) ……………… to be able to study or work in all sorts of exciting places, such as the United States or Australia.

23. A. mistakes                        B. corrections       C. changes              D. differences

24. A. common                        B. popular             C. favourite                        D. general

25. A. reading              B. composition                 C. dictation             D. vocabulary

26. A. of                      B. in                      C. from                   D. at

27. A. likely                 B. probably           C. possibly              D. luckily

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Are Sports Bad for Kids?

     People think children should play sports. Sports are fun, and children stay healthy while playing with others. However, playing sports can have negative effects on children. It may produce feelings of poor self-esteem or aggressive behavior in some children. According to research on kids and sports, 40 million kids play sports in the US. Of these, 18 million say they have been yelled at or called names while playing sports. This leaves many children with a bad impression of sports. They think sports are just too aggressive.

     Many researchers believe adults, especially parents and coaches, are the main cause of too much aggression in children’s sports. They believe children copy aggressive adult behavior. This behavior is then further reinforced through both positive and negative feedback. Parents and coaches are powerful teachers because children usually look up to them. Often these adults behave aggressively themselves, sending children the message that winning is everything. At children’s sporting events, parents may yell insults at other players or cheer when their child behaves aggressively. As well, children may be taught that hurting other players is acceptable, or they may be pushed to continue playing even when they are injured. In addition, the media makes violence seem exciting. Children watch adult sports games and see violent behavior replayed over and over on television.

     As a society, we really need to face up to this problem and do something about it. Parents and coaches should act as better examples for children. They also need to teach children better values. They should teach children to enjoy themselves whether they win or not. It is not necessary to knock yourself out to enjoy sports. Winning is not everything. In addition, children should not be allowed to continue to play when they are injured. Sending a child with an injury into a game gives the child the message that health is not as important as winning. If we make some basic changes, children might learn to enjoy sports again.

28. What is the main idea of the reading?

     A. Children often become like their parents.

     B. Children need to play sports in school.

     C. Playing sports may have negative results.

     D. Some sports can cause health problems.

29. How many children said they had some negative experience when playing sports?

     A. All of the children                      B. More than half of the children

     C. Less than half of the children     D. About ten percent of the children

30. Which is described as the main cause of more aggressive playing?

     A. Adults                                        B. Children with low grades in school

     C. New rules in sports                     D. Other players

31. What does the writer suggest?

     A. Aggressive sports should not be shown on television.

     B. Children should not play sports until high school.

     C. Coaches should be required to study child psychology.

     D. Parents should teach children to play sports for fun and exercise.

32. What would probably NOT be done when “facing up to a problem”?

     A. Ignoring the problem                              B. Finding the reason

     C. Admitting there is a problem                  D. Looking for a solution

• Read the following passage and mark the letter (A, B, C, or D) on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

                                                                                        SMARTPHONES - A NECCESITY

Smartphones have spread beyond the boardroom and keeping a close eye on what's new is Mike Lazaridis, chief executive of RIM, the company that makes the BlackBerry smartphone. His device may no longer be quite as trendy as it once was but it is still (21) .................. − particularly for Argentinian milk farmers. Mr. Lazaridis says: "I like the way it's being used by the farmers so they are always up to date. Milk is a (22) .................. item, so delivery and production standards are incredibly important." He is reminded of the company's early days: "This is where we started in 1987, with a wireless vertical data business for the Swedish lumber (23) .................., and then on to fire brigades, ambulances, and garbage trucks."

    While the BlackBerry was quick to (24) .................. itself as the accessory of choice for business professionals such as Wall Street traders, the cheaper price (25) .................. and new, more colorful handsets now (26) .................. offer have opened it up to a much wider market. Mr. Lazaridis says: "It was obvious that business people and self-employed professionals would buy the BlackBerry, but we were not expecting the (27) .................. we had from ordinary consumers."

    The greatest challenge for RIM, however, could lie in an economic (28) ..................., when individuals and companies alike may see devices like the BlackBerry as luxuries they can (29) .................. without. The company has to make its product indispensable to the lifestyles of consumers or prove that they bring a real (30) .................. on investment for business users.

_{+ ANSWER:}

21, A. constructive     B. functional     C. active     D. operative

22, A. perishable     B. short-lived     C. decaying     D. destructible

23, A. manufacturers     B. enterprise     C. commerce     D. industry

24, A. install     B. establish     C. create     D. demonstrate

25, A. designs     B. programmes     C. plans     D. systems

26, A. at            B. on             C. for            D. under

27, A. return     B. retort     C. reply     D. response

28, A. downturn     B. tall     C. decrease     D. drop

29, A. make      B. carry      C. do      D. stay

30, A. return      B. gain      C. interest      D. profit

THE RECIPE FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION
How many people do you communicate with in a day? Probably a lot more than you did ten years ago. With a few pieces of
equipment we can „talk‟ to people in more and more ways, not (15) ……..face-to-face and on the phone, but also through the
Internet. It is very important, therefore, for everyone to try and improve their communication skills. Despite all the
technological advances of (16) ……… years, the art of good conversation is still at the heart of successful communication. So
it is a good idea to remember the four golden rules of good communication. (17) ……., be as clear as you can.
Misunderstandings happen if we don‟t say correctly (18)……….we mean. Secondly, we have to
work hard at listening. Pay attention to what the other person is saying. Thirdly, ask other people what they think, don‟t only
tell them what you think. Fourthly, give them time to say what they want, and show interest in what they say. If you (19)……..
these rules, you will be a good communicator.